Housing Merritt Project Director

Merritt B.C. is nestled in the stunning Nicola Valley, surrounded by a spectacular sprawling rugged landscape at the hub of the Coquihalla highway mountain pass. Merritt is a small, caring and resilient City featuring an abundance of outdoor recreation and leisure amenities to keep the whole family entertained, big-city amenities and short commutes.

The City of Merritt seeks to grow as a progressive, attractive, economically viable, socially responsible and environmentally sustainable city. Our Team is diverse and forward-thinking; we are committed to inclusive, collaborative, and innovative approaches to meet challenges, achieve our mission, and make a difference in the community.

Our strength comes from our skilled and dedicated employees and commitment to our values. Together, we continue to build an inclusive culture that encourages, supports, and celebrates the diverse voices of our employees. It fuels our innovation and connects us closer to the community we serve.

Reporting to the Chief Administrative Officer, the Housing Merritt Project Director is the City’s lead resource for identifying creative and innovative housing solutions which meet the unique needs of our community. The need for housing solutions has never been greater, with equitable and affordable access to housing that will shape the community for generations to come.

The Housing Merritt Project Director is a senior leadership level professional planning position that involves considerable independent judgement with the ability to evolve in supporting the (re)development of a resilient and adaptive community.

The Housing Merritt Project Director will be joining a team of committed and passionate professionals who genuinely care about the community they serve and thrive working in a fast-paced and flexible environment. Sharing in the rewards of working with an organization that offers challenging work, competitive compensation, and supports the growth and development of its people, the Housing Merritt Project Director will demonstrate meaningful pride and consideration for our team and community.

Key Accountabilities

• Developing a program model to address the community’s short-term and ongoing housing needs, including addressing non-market, low-market, and missing middle housing needs, both for rental and homeownership opportunities.
• Identifying opportunities available to the City to enter into investment partnerships for the development of housing across the housing spectrum, with a focus on non-market and affordable missing middle housing.
• Supporting and advocating for development applications as they proceed through the City’s approval processes to ensure that housing can be completed in a timely/accelerated manner. This may include managing the review process, advising senior management or Council on an appropriate role for the City, relative to other government and non-profit partners.
• Initiating and managing contracts with delivery partners, including financial oversite, quality assurance, and adherence to project/contractual requirements.
• Managing project consultants in the delivery of special reports and plans related to housing projects needs in the community, ensuring that they align with the Official Community Plan and other pre-existing strategic guiding documents.
• Promoting the activities of non-market housing and securing opportunities for new development, new funding resources or innovative delivery models.
• Supporting the identification, assessment, and progression of land opportunities to deliver affordable housing units across the city.
• Recommending and implementing other approved housing related projects, including supporting local homeowners and developers to initiate energy reduction and climate change mitigation improvements.
• Establishing collaborative working relationships with other City departments, and external stakeholders such as community organizations, property owners, non-profit and co-op housing groups, senior government agencies, Indigenous governments, and the development community.
• Ensuring all projects and processes are consistent with Council’s strategic priorities and the City’s overall objectives, including those related to housing, community planning, economic development, climate action, equity, and reconciliation.
• Developing and implementing creative and meaningful community and partner engagement processes.
• Making presentations to various bodies and groups as required.
• Other duties/responsibilities as assigned.

Education, Knowledge, and Experience

• Degree in Planning, Social Work, Business, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 3 years in an urban planning, social planning/development, not-for-profit management, or non-market housing development employment role.
• Project Management training/certificate such as PMP designation preferred, or equivalent experience.
• Experience in preparing and managing large budgets.
• Experience in preparing requests for proposals and evaluating responses for large developments (preferably in affordable housing).
• Experience in policy development.
• Experience in the BC regulatory environment.

Skills & Abilities

Technological Knowledge – Skilled in all relevant software such as MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, SharePoint) and Adobe Illustrator; Ability to acquire new software concepts quickly.

Knowledge Specific – Knowledge of institutional and sustainable building design and construction practices; Strong understanding of best practices and tools applicable to advancing affordable housing projects in a small urban setting, including community sustainability/growth trends, climate action, and equity; Exceptional skills in preparing project specifications and consulting agreements; Ability to negotiate and manage development and lease agreements.

Communication – Strong written and interpersonal communication skills to develop and implement innovative community engagement processes; Experience engaging with vulnerable populations, ensuring their voices and needs are heard; Experience engaging with and developing collaborative working relationships with Indigenous governments; Ability to synthesis technical or domain specific information, research and best practices and present it in an accessible way for all stakeholders.

Critical Thinking – Thinks analytically and conceptually, integrates and evaluates pertinent data, identifies issues, and identifies key contributors; Maintains a solution-oriented approach, solves problems and makes decisions applying sound judgement and a realistic understanding of issues; Recognizes where matters should be escalated within the organization.

Flexibility and Tolerance of Ambiguity – Ability to manage multiple projects at a time in a fast-paced environment; Copes effectively with transitions and change and adapts to new information and ambiguous situations as they arise; Shifts gears and handles risk and uncertainty.

Managing and Coordinating Resources – Project Management skills to balance multiple projects and respond to opportunities with tight deadlines; Demonstrates ability to organize work, resolve unexpected issues and take appropriate corrective actions as required.

Cultural Competence – Awareness of and ability to authentically connect with Indigenous communities through positive diversity and respectful, inclusive working relationships.

Leadership – Self-motivated, self-aware with the ability to self-manage and take responsibility for their performance, personal effectiveness, work quality, timeliness and work autonomously; Develops self and demonstrates character by modelling organizational values, integrity, and honesty; Ability to follow and set direction that aligns with the organization and take action to implement decisions; Ability to navigate socio-political environments using discretion and good judgment, resilience and confidence; Engages others, contributing to healthy organization and network; Ability to create a responsive, safe, inclusive and positive atmosphere welcoming staff, customers and others; Conducts themself professionally, promoting a respectful, inclusive and cooperative team environment.

Workplace Safety – Competently leads the application of the OHS program and Occupational Health and Safety legislation within the scope required of a supervisor/manager and contributes positively to a culture of safety.

Policies, Processes and Procedures – Manages and maintains insight and understanding of local government and the City of Merritt bylaws, policies and procedures; Guided by established practices, procedures and policies, enforces organizational policies and procedures where required.

Commitment to the Task – Takes responsibility for actions and outcomes and persists despite obstacles; Is available in an emergency; Demonstrates dependability under challenging circumstances and shows a sense of urgency about getting results; Participates in a climate of continuous improvement, seeking to enhance effectiveness, efficiency, productivity, processes and quality, production and costs that improve organizational performance.

Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.

Benefits

We offer you a Total Rewards package with:

• Competitive salary ($85,000 - $103,000 per year)
• Extended healthcare plan
• Well-being benefits
• Discretionary days, paid time off
• A defined benefit pension plan
• Group Life - AD&D - Critical Illness Insurance Insurance
• Exclusive perks
• An employee and family assistance plan
• A supportive, respectful work environment where creativity, innovation and fun are encouraged

Make a difference with us!

The City of Merritt is an equal-opportunity employer. We encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds and are committed to building a respectful and inclusive workplace that reflects the community we serve. This position is open to all candidates who meet the qualifications. A hiring preference will apply for qualified candidates of Canadian Indigenous ancestry, with a priority for qualified Syilx or Nłeʔkepmx First Nation candidates.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.